WORLD SQUASH NEWS

RESULTS: Shanghai WISPA WorldStars Squash Championship, Shanghai, China

Qualifying finals:
Shelley Kitchen (NZL) bt Annelize Naude (NED) 9-1, 2-9, 9-4, 5-9, 9-5 (56m)
Tania Bailey (ENG) bt Christina Mak (HKG) 9-2, 9-2, 9-1 (29m)
Madeline Perry (IRL) bt Pamela Nimmo (SCO) 9-2, 9-3, 9-3 (27m)
Vicky Botwright (ENG) bt Mami Nishio (JPN) 9-1, 9-5, 9-1 (22m)

Shanghai Qualifiers Create Olympic Interest

A marathon battle for a place in the main draw of the Shanghai WISPA WorldStars Championship - first major squash event to be staged on mainland China - caused sufficient interest to attract two members of the Chinese Olympic Committee to journey from Beijing to view the sport's historic debut in the country preparing to host the 2008 Games.

New Zealand favourite Shelley Kitchen was fully extended by Annelize Naude - but ultimately defeated her Netherlands opponent 9-1 2-9 9-4 5-9 9-5 in 56 minutes.

Ms He Huixian, Vice President of the Chinese Olympic Committee, appeared enthused by both the play and Naude's hair colouring!  Mr Hu Jianguo, who has tried to play squash a few times, also enjoyed his first exposure to the professional game at the Megafit Sports Club in Shanghai.

Hong Kong's Christina Mak had neither the pace nor tightness to trouble England's Tania Bailey, now recovered from the nasal infection that caused her midstream exit from the British Open.  Bailey goes on to face eighth-seeded compatriot Rebecca Macree in the main draw, while Kitchen is drawn to meet Australia's third seed Natalie Grinham, fresh from her brief layoff to resolve a shoulder problem.

Lancashire's Vicky Botwright became the second English player to claim a qualifying place in the first round, after a 22-minute 9-1 9-5 9-1 win over Japan's Mami Nishio.  Ireland's Madeline Perry secured the final qualifying slot when she beat Scotland's Pamela Nimmo 9-2 9-3 9-3.

Perry now faces fourth seed Natalie Grainger, while Botwright is pitted with fellow countrywoman Fiona Geaves, the sixth seed.

Revised 1st round draw:
[1] Rachael Grinham (AUS) v Rebecca Chiu (HKG)
[8] Rebecca Macree (ENG) v [Q] Tania Bailey (ENG)
[4] Natalie Grainger (USA) v [Q] Madeline Perry (IRL)
[7] Nicol David (MAS) v Jenny Duncalf (ENG)
[5] Linda Elriani (ENG) v Omneya Abdel Kawy (EGY)
[3] Natalie Grinham (AUS) v [Q] Shelley Kitchen (NZL)
[6] Fiona Geaves (ENG) v [Q] Vicky Botwright (ENG)
[2] Cassie Jackman (ENG) v Jenny Tranfield (ENG)